Boxing Can Be Commercial: The 10 Best
by Hans Olson
We’ve seen Manny Pacquiao on TV a lot lately. He’s pitching everything from Nike shoes to HP TouchPads…and that’s just here in the States! A simple Youtube search will find Manny stamping his seal of approval on everything from Red Horse Beer
to Talk ‘n‘ Text
You’ll see the pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather on the airwaves a lot as well. My favorite was a playful ESPN spot with Brian Kenny little while back:
The latest in superstar pitchmen?
Mike Lee.
Well, ok…Mike Lee isn’t a superstar yet…but you get the point.
Boxing can be commercial.
Here are a few gems from the past, and some from the not-so-distant past for you to enjoy.
Without further ado, here are the 10 best….
10. George Foreman: “When We Were Kings” (or, when he got a glimpse of him)
Big George knows where to get his Doritos! He also seems pretty pumped on seeing an Elvis impersonator—albeit probably the worst Elvis impersonator of all time!
9. Wladimir and Vitali Klitchcko: Knocking Out Dandruff
The K-Bros can’t seem to find a worthy challenger in the Heavyweight division…so taking on dandruff might be just as competitive for them…
8. Kelly Pavlik: “Celebrity” Softball Slam!
There’s no doubt that Kelly Pavlik was one of the baddest dudes in boxing back in 07/08…though one wonders how many actual “celebrities” made the trek to star-studded Youngstown, OH to play Softball with “The Ghost.” Ironically, it was Team Pavlik vs. Team Media, a battle that still rages today!
7. Don King: What a Croc of…
All I have to say is…Materialific Fantastitude!!!
6. Mike Tyson: Power!!!!
For anyone who grew up near or around the 1980s, you can relate to Nintendo shaping most of, if not all of your developmental years. Few games wasted these precious years away like “Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out” did. Although this one isn’t necessarily funny (save for the bizarre non-Tyson laugh at the end), it is nostalgically amazing.
5. Marvin Hagler- Is Mom watching?
Ok, this one is pretty awkward. “Marvelous” mmm’s his way through a slice of pie while a slow-jam blues tune plays. I have no idea who came up with this idea, but it is pretty awesome to watch. Didn’t Marvin’s Mom ever tell him to chew with his mouth closed?
4. Evander Holyfield: Would You Pop a Buddy in the Mouth?
The jokes write themselves on this one…
3. “Smokin” Joe Frazier: Gimme one of them rooms with no smoke!
If that was the best take…I’d hate to see what was left on the cutting room floor…
2. Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran: Feelin’ 7-Up!!!
Talk about a different era…these days we can’t get Mayweather and Pacquiao in the ring together…let alone in a commercial together!
1. Peter “Hurricane” McNeeley: Stuffed Crust Knockout
I wonder if “Hurricane” got paid more for this, or 89 seconds with Tyson?
Boxing Insider’s Hans Olson can be reached at [email protected] Follow him on Twitter @hansolson